Snippets

Here are some road scenarios to think about as to what we do on roads unconcerned about others.

And here I was the witness to pile up in Chandigarh as these cars speeded up on a busy road
and ended up crashing into each other. Fortunately only three got badly damaged
while four other just escaped with few scratches. 

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Here's a  new style of "wearing" helmet...
after all it is for the enforcement and not for your own safety...isn't it??

Barricades left unattended in the midst of road..
can prove fatal especially when placed immediately after a turn...

And here is horse cart with its unmarked protruding load
moving on the right of the road

And here's a probably rich guy in a sedan
transporting some material protruding dangerously out. 

This is another common sight on our Indian roads.
Making the 'best' use of your conveyance...for your convenience!

''23rd National Road Safety Week''

"Accidents bring tears, safety brings cheer" is the theme for 23rd National Road Safety Week so as to create awareness among citizens to be safe, drive safe and arrive safe. The Road Safety Week is observed worldwide in the first week of January and in most of the cities we can notice proactive policemen and citizens working diligently to create awareness on road safety and to bring down the fatality rate on roads.

'Road Safety Week' this time is being observed during 17th-23rd January in my city (Chandigarh, India). Everyday awareness camps are being organised in various parts of the city. An interactive seminar was organised in Govt. College, Sector-46 where officials from enforcement agencies, professionals from different backgrounds, teachers, NGO's, lawmakers were present. Relevant issues that bother every road user were bought to the fore and fruitful recommendations were suggested. Chandigarh Traffic Police deserves to be lauded for its various endeavors like taking stringent action for drunken driving, engaging responsible citizens as  Traffic Marshals, deploying hi-tech gadgets, using sms alerts, interacting with citizens through Facebook and making its presence felt not only physically but also technologically. Kudos to them!!  

Stop this carnage!!

Crashes; reckless driving; road rage; deaths and injuries on road; congestion; air and noise pollution...it seems we just cant get enough when it comes to 'Traffic on Roads'. The irony is, it just keeps on growing with no possibility of cessation anywhere. The number of road fatalities and crashes is enormous, and so is the loss financially, physically and emotionally.
The following video "I don't want to die on the road", has been put together by the NGO 'Behtar Dilli', working for the betterment of India's capital, New Delhi. This video focuses exclusively at the scenario prevalent in Delhi where at least four people die on roads everyday!

For more information on 'BehtarDilli', log onto http://behtardilliblog.wordpress.com/

Try these Awareness Tests..

Cyclists and Pedestrians are the vulnerable lot, more probable of being victimized in Road Crashes. Road fatality statistics all over the world reveal the same pattern. Although not much attention is paid to them in our part of the world, certain awareness campaigns do reflect the need of the hour which is required. The awareness tests for cyclists safety, several TV commercials devised by Transport for London is commendable and thought provoking indeed. Have a Look:

Look out for cyclists...pedestrians...children...and lot more while driving!  Be safe. 

Is Enforcement the Only answer??

Every time I see people not adhering to traffic rules makes me wonder Why is the enforcement needed to tell us as to what is right or safe for us? Driving license holders are 18+ year age group. So aren't we mature enough to discriminate between what is right and wrong, and to what is safe or unsafe for us?
Recently I happened to visit Dehradun (District Uttarakhand, India) and I was happy to see women two-wheeler drivers wearing helmets though only the drivers and not the pillion riders. More so many of them purchasing things on roadside with their helmets on and not minding the way they looked, which was good sight for me as back here the place I live in, majority of women two-wheeler riders do not bother to wear helmets (as it is not enforced here for some religious reason). Ironically enforcement again was the answer, it is compulsory for the women riders in Dehradun to wear helmet which is the reason they adhered to it. Why things have to be enforced and it cannot come from within?

Road crashes come unannounced and we have to accept the fact that we human beings are not invincible, so being safe and doing everything for our own safety, of our near and dear ones and to the other road users is of prime importance. Mobility is a necessity and so is our safety when mobile!!

City Traffic Police goes Hi-tech!!

With the number of ever increasing vehicles on roads, combating traffic, negotiating with some enraged and undisciplined drivers, I bet it takes more than just a driving skill to take on roads these days. The enforcement is doing its bit to help lessen the traffic chaos on roads and also to duly punish the offenders. The Traffic Police Chandigarh resorted to came online so as to interact with the public through the medium they are most comfortable with. Coming on-board with the most famous Social Networking site 'Facebook' in June this year, public has welcomed the initiative full-throttle. From posting pictures, to get clarifications regarding various activities and traffic laws that exist, this initiative has not only enhanced the Traffic Police public image but has also tried to win back the confidence of the people at large. No doubts this strategy has proven successful with the Police issuing 644 challans/traffic tickets against violators in two months on traffic violations which were evident via the pictures uploaded by the city residents.
Now other strategy to be launched today in order to inform the public about traffic situations in the city, Traffic Police Chandigarh is going to start with 'SMS' alerts. The SMS Cellphone subscribers will get information on traffic jams, security arrangements, diversions together with certain tips on Road Safety. Other cities in which this service is already operational are Bangalore, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Kolkata and New Delhi.
Now that the Police is going Hi-tech, the outreach will be immense and steps like these are more than welcome.
For more on this:
http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/11/stories/2011061161481600.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/At-6-paisa-receive-traffic-alerts-for-lifetime/articleshow/9889959.cms
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110907/cth1.htm#7

Smile :)

A nice forwarded mail just to make you Smile :)

It Is Time! How do you know when it is time to"hang up the car keys"? I say when your dog has this look on his face!

A picture is worth a thousand words!!